Nation's Leading Mobility Industry Executives and Governmental Leaders Set to Convene Policy Forum in Nation's Capital

Warrendale, PA - April 13, 3004: The nation's top mobility industry executives and governmental officials will discuss the future of the automotive industry when the Society of Automotive Engineers, International (SAE) convenes the 2004 SAE Government/Industry Meeting in Washington, D.C., next month.

This year's event - to be held at the Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, from May 10-12, 2004 - will carry the theme "Government/Industry: Partners in Progress" and will cover a host of hot button automotive topics. Among the technical sessions are topics such as: Crashworthiness, Future Powertrain Technologies, Voluntary Diesel Emissions Reduction, Developing an Efficient and Safe Hydrogen Supply Infrastructure, Off Road Diesel Technologies and Regulations, and ITS Crash Avoidance Technologies, to name a few.

The meeting will feature a Ride & Drive event, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), to be held on May 11 and May 12 at the Federal Highway Administration's Turner-Fairbank Facility in McLean, Virginia. Cars available at the Ride & Drive event: BMW 740d Diesel (2 cars); Mercedes E Class Diesel; Ford Focus Fuel Cell Car; GM HydroGen3 Fuel Cell Car; Honda Civic Hybrid and Civic GX (Natural Gas Car); Nissan X-Trail Fuel Cell Vehicle; and a Toyota Prius Hybrid Vehicle. Throughout the event, there will also be a "21st Century Truck" static display at Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, again courtesy of the U.S. DOE.

The meeting features an assortment of high-level executive panels and keynote speeches. For instance, the luncheon on Tuesday, May 11, offers two keynotes for the price of one: the podium will be shared between David Garman, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, U.S. DOE, and Thomas G. Stephens, Group Vice President, GM Powertrain.

The Government/Industry Meeting also includes the annual Environmental Excellence in Transportation (E2T) Award Luncheon. The E2T award recognizes individuals (and in some cases, groups of individuals) who, through their ingenuity and dedication, make significant innovations in reducing the environmental impact of the transportation industry.

Each year, SAE brings together leading technical authorities from government, industry and academia to address the most pressing issues in energy, conservation, safety, and the environment - key areas where technology and policy significantly affect one another. The Government/Industry Meeting serves as a professional, neutral forum where participants may showcase achievements, share technological solutions, and discuss pending legislation and its potential impact on industry.

For more information about the meeting, please visit www.sae.org/govind. For media inquiries and to obtain media credentials, contact Keith Hancock at 724.772.8516 or at khancock@sae.org.